SYGNUS is the world’s first integrated seal and electrical connector system for medical active implantable devices. It’s a plug-and-play solution for the critical lead interface, engineered to help you accelerate development and stay focused on what’s important to your business. The SYGNUS system combines ultra-reliable electrical connector technology with implantable-grade silicone isolation seals to create a serial “stack” that’s both compact and scalable. SYGNUS lets you confidently integrate proven interconnect components AND satisfy demand for smaller, more functional devices—while eliminating the need for dual sourcing or internal component development.
What Is the SYGNUS Implantable Connector System?
The SYGNUS® implantable connector system is a turnkey integrated seal and electrical connector solution purpose-built for active implantable medical devices (AIMDs). It combines Bal Seal’s proven canted coil spring electrical contact technology with precision-engineered silicone isolation seals in a compact, scalable serial stack — providing both reliable electrical connectivity and hermetic fluid isolation in a single plug-and-play system.
Unlike conventional pin-and-socket or set-screw connector approaches, the SYGNUS system’s spring-loaded contacts deliver multi-point conductivity with ultra-low contact resistance (<100 mΩ), automatically compensating for lead misalignment and tolerance variations. SYGNUS eliminates the need for dual sourcing seal and connector components separately, accelerating development timelines for cardiac rhythm management (CRM), neuromodulation, and next-generation neurostimulation devices.
Why Choose SYGNUS for Implantable Device Connectors?
Medical device OEMs choose the SYGNUS® system over internally developed interconnects and conventional connector technologies when they need to accelerate time-to-market, reduce device size, and ensure ultra-reliable electrical connections in implantable applications.
Smaller Devices, More Connections
SYGNUS is engineered to minimize axial pitch, enabling greater connector density in less space than any other leading implantable interconnect technology. Inside diameters from 0.6 mm to 10+ mm support the trend toward smaller, higher-channel-count neuromodulation and neurostimulation devices without compromising electrical performance.
Integrated Seal + Connector System
The SYGNUS system integrates electrical connectors and silicone isolation seals into a single validated assembly, eliminating the complexity and risk of dual sourcing. Precision-engineered biocompatible seals prevent fluid ingress and dielectric breakdown between channels, while spring-loaded contacts ensure consistent, low-resistance connectivity.
Accelerated Development & Proven Reliability
SYGNUS’s pre-engineered configurations for neuromodulation (0.9 mm, 1.3 mm) and cardiac (3.2 mm IS-4) applications provide a validated starting point that accelerates device development. Backed by over two decades of Bal Seal’s implantable connector expertise and canted coil spring technology proven in millions of implanted devices worldwide.
SYGNUS Connector System Construction
The SYGNUS system’s core technology is the electrical connector. Consisting of a housing made from medical-grade MP35N® nickel alloy and a platinum-iridium or MP35N® canted coil spring, the connector offers low insertion force and ultra-low electrical impedance (<100 mΩ). The individual coils of its spring element provide multi-point conductivity, and they automatically compensate for both misalignment and mating surface irregularities.
SYGNUS electrical connector housings are typically cylindrical, but their geometry can be customized to incorporate features that aid in connector retention and simplify assembly processes.
Between the SYGNUS system’s connectors, precision-engineered silicone seals provide superior fluid and dielectric isolation, preventing leakage and current transfer that could cause device malfunction or failure.
SYGNUS is engineered to minimize axial pitch, allowing for greater connector density in less space. Pitch distance, housing diameter, spring diameter, and housing geometry are completely customizable. The SYGNUS system’s connector designs are subjected to comprehensive force testing, and its sealing components are packaged to critical clean standards.
SYGNUS Connector System Sizes
The SYGNUS implantable connector system plays a big role in the consistent, reliable operation of active medical devices. But it keeps a very low profile, managing more power in less space than any other leading interconnect technology. With our advanced manufacturing processes, we can produce these systems with inside diameters ranging from 0.024 in. (.6 mm) to 0.39 in. (10 mm)+.
SYGNUS Connector System Functions
In devices used to deliver cardiac rhythm management and neuromodulation therapies, the SYGNUS implantable connector system enables the transmission of power from the device battery and electronics to the lead. The highly conductive canted coil spring element in each connector aligns with electrodes on the lead, reliably and consistently managing electrical pulses with minimal heat rise. The system’s silicone seals help prevent fluid ingress, and ensure that channels with different functions don’t interfere with one another. While the SYGNUS system is typically incorporated into the device header, it’s also an ideal solution for inline connections that allow for faster, safer lead replacement.
SYGNUS Connector System Materials
The springs, housings, and seals in our SYGNUS system are available in a range of implantable-grade, biocompatible materials.
SYGNUS Connector System Configurations
We offer the SYGNUS implantable connector system in configurations that meet requirements for current and emerging neuromodulation technologies, as well as industry standards for implantable cardiac devices. These designs can be integrated into your device as a turnkey solution, or they can serve a baseline for accelerated customization.
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| 0.9 mm SYGNUS | |
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| 1.3 mm SYGNUS Standard | |
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| 1.3 mm SYGNUS Mini |
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| 3.2 mm SYGNUS Cardiac |
SYGNUS Connector System Performance
Electrical connector performance can be influenced by size, housing and spring material selection, spring coil density, and many other factors. With our design experience and consultative engineering approach, we can help you make the best choices for your device. Here’s a look at some general SYGNUS® performance characteristics.
Nominal Static Dry Contact Resistance (mΩ)*
Running Force Range (N)
Maximum Breakout Force (N)
Electrical Isolation – Silicone Seal (MΩ)
*Tolerances for this value can range from +/- 15 mΩ to +/- 200 mΩ, depending on a variety of physical and material factors. Contact us, and we’ll help you achieve the optimal electrical performance.
SYGNUS Connector System Spring Force
At the heart of the SYGNUS connector system is our proven canted coil spring technology. Our spring exerts a near-constant force across the working deflection range, and its forces remain consistent. The spring resists compression set, and its individual coils compensate for misalignment, tolerance variations, and mating surface irregularities. The spring’s multiple coils also provide contact redundancy. Spring forces can be engineered to meet minimum/maximum values for lead insertion.
SYGNUS Connector System Applications
The SYGNUS® implantable connector system is engineered for active implantable medical devices where reliable electrical connectivity, fluid isolation, and compact size are essential for patient safety and therapeutic efficacy.
Neuromodulation & Neurostimulation
Spinal cord stimulators, deep brain stimulators, peripheral nerve stimulators, and sacral neuromodulation devices require high-channel-count connector systems with minimal pitch that reliably transmit therapeutic pulses while maintaining channel-to-channel isolation throughout the device lifetime.
Cardiac Rhythm Management
Pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices rely on IS-4 and DF-4 compliant connector systems to deliver consistent pacing and defibrillation energy through leads that must connect and disconnect reliably during implant and revision procedures.
Emerging Implantable Therapies
Cochlear implants, retinal prostheses, closed-loop neurostimulation, and next-generation bioelectronic medicine devices push the boundaries of miniaturization and channel count. SYGNUS’s scalable architecture and customizable configurations support the connector density and performance these emerging therapies demand.
SYGNUS Connector System FAQs
SYGNUS® is a complete integrated connector and seal system — it includes both the spring-loaded electrical connectors and the silicone isolation seals in a single turnkey assembly. Bal Conn® is the electrical connector component only, without integrated seals. SYGNUS is the preferred choice when you need both electrical connectivity and fluid isolation in a pre-validated system, while Bal Conn is ideal when you’re integrating the connector into your own sealing architecture.
SYGNUS is purpose-built for active implantable medical devices (AIMDs) including spinal cord stimulators, deep brain stimulators, peripheral nerve stimulators, pacemakers, ICDs, CRT devices, cochlear implants, and emerging bioelectronic medicine platforms. Its configurations support both neuromodulation lead diameters (0.9 mm, 1.3 mm) and cardiac standards (3.2 mm IS-4/DF-4).
SYGNUS connector systems can be produced with inside diameters as small as 0.024 in. (0.6 mm), making them among the smallest implantable interconnect systems available. The system’s minimized axial pitch enables higher connector density in compact device headers, supporting the industry trend toward smaller, more functional implantables with increasing channel counts.
All SYGNUS components are manufactured from implantable-grade, biocompatible materials. Connector housings are available in MP35N® nickel alloy, 316L stainless steel, medical-grade titanium, and platinum iridium. Contact springs are manufactured from platinum iridium or MP35N®. Isolation seals are precision-engineered from implantable-grade silicone. All materials are selected for long-term biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and MRI compatibility.
SYGNUS connectors achieve ultra-low static dry contact resistance below 100 mΩ. The canted coil spring’s multiple independent coils provide redundant contact points, ensuring consistent conductivity even with lead misalignment or tolerance variations. Actual resistance values depend on spring material, coil count, plating, and connector geometry — our engineers will optimize the design for your specific electrical requirements.
Yes. While SYGNUS offers pre-engineered configurations for neuromodulation and cardiac applications, the system is fully customizable. Pitch distance, housing diameter, housing geometry, spring diameter, spring force, and seal design can all be tailored to your device’s specific requirements. Our consultative engineering team works directly with your design team from concept through validation. Contact our engineering team to discuss your application.
Request SYGNUS Engineering Support
Accelerate your implantable device development with the SYGNUS® integrated connector and seal system. Our implantable device connector engineers will evaluate your application requirements — channel count, lead diameter, electrical specifications, and regulatory standards — and recommend a SYGNUS configuration optimized for your device. From concept through design verification and production, we deliver the precision, reliability, and biocompatibility your implantable demands.
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